How to Build a Wedding Website your Guests will happily use!

Wedding websites are becoming more and more popular. In fact, according to the knot, 84% of engaged couples in 2021 created and used wedding websites, and that number will likely continue to grow. Personalized wedding websites are an easy way to share all of the wedding information in one spot. If you are worried you will put effort into a website NO ONE will look at, fear not! Lets chat about how to make a wedding website your guests will actually enjoy using.

Are you planning to have a wedding website?

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1. Choose a website hosting platform: Choose a website hosting platform that offers a wedding website template that is easy to use, for both you to create and for guests to navigate, is key. If your website is hard to navigate, people will not use it! Popular choices include The Knot, Joy, Minted, Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress. Some domains, such as The knot and Joy, also offer the ability to create guest lists, send out email or paper Save the Dates and invitations directly in one easy, efficient and streamline process.

2. Pick a wedding website template: Choose a theme that best reflects the style of your wedding. Make sure the template is easy to navigate and looks good on both desktop and mobile devices. I recommend spicing things up with colors that align with your theme and uploading photos of you and your fiancee!

3. Customize the template: Chose a template that will share the information that is relevant to your day. Sit down with your partner, grab a cup of tea or bottle of wine and fill in the details. If you are able to , completing this together helps to include both of your "voices and tones" in the writing and details. By adding fun quirks and facts in, such as where you first met, your favorite foods where relevant can help keep your guests engaged. I recommend including the following:

• Welcome page- Start with a short and sweet message, date, time, location and a photo!

• Schedule of the day/weekend: Clear expectations of the day(s) times, locations, parking, and whether food is provided is so important to prevent guests from wandering around on your day unsure of where to go next.

• Travel info: Whether you are hosting a destination wedding OR you have guests traveling from out of town, it is important to include where individuals can stay, if there are any hotel blocks, things to do in and around the area and where to eat.

• Q&A tab- Be sure to include a section with common questions:

  • Virtual options and how to join

  • Dress code

  • Parking?

  • Shuttle info?

  • Kid friendly?

  • Open bar, cash bar, toonie bar?

  • Will there be food? What if a guest has allergies, who do they contact?

  • Unplugged ceremony? Are guests able to take photos and post them on social media?

• Registry info: Include links to any registries you have set up, for example a honeymoon or travel registry, household items you may want or charities you wish for individuals to donate to.

• Personal touches: Info about how you met, who is in your wedding party is not necessary but an appreciated touch that guests often vote LOVING. We are here to celebrate YOU BOTH after all!

• RSVP: include either RSVP information (when to RSVP by and how to RSVP) or include an option to RSVP online

4. Test the website: Test the website to make sure all the links, forms, and other elements are working properly. Have a close friend or family member review the site as well, a second set of eyes can always be helpful!

5. Share the website: Once the website is complete, share the link with family and friends. Make sure to include the link on your save the date, invitations and any wedding related communication. When guests ask questions you can also always send the answer and direct them to the website or send them the link as well with a quick message, "Incase you have any other questions do not hesitate to check our wedding website or let us know!"

6. Update the website regularly: Make sure to keep the website up to date with the most recent news and changes regarding the wedding.

7. Wedding planner or support: If you are still feeling overwhelmed or do not have the time, feel free to reach out to your wedding planner to see if they would b able to help support building your wedding website. If you are interested in wedding planning, or wedding coordination feel free to check out a variety of consultation, partial planning or full planning packages HERE, I would be thrilled to help in anyway I can!